Epocrates killing webOS app due to 'relatively low interest' 103
Epocrates users on webOS are currently getting the announcement via email: the medical app is pulling out of webOS. They'll give you one last update then pull the thing from the App Catalog in February. It's a serious bummer and a serious blow to webOS as a platform insofar as it would be nice to see HP / Palm manage to hang on to big name developers even if marketshare looks stagnant right now - a need our own Derek Kessler explained at length earlier today.
Anyhow, after 2/1/11 they recommend you use their mobile-optimized website or, ahem, use an iPhone or Android device. Ouch. Email after the break.
Thanks to everybody who sent this in!
Due to the relatively low interest level among our user base, Epocrates has decided to discontinue support of the Palm® webOS™ platform for smartphones.
There will be one last clinical update in mid-December and we will notify you as soon as it is available. If you need to install or update the product, please do so by 2/1. On that date, we will remove the application from the App Catalog.
You can keep access to Epocrates content through our online site , which is optimized for your mobile device. Please note this will require Internet access. Also, if you are in the process of deciding on a new device, we encourage you to look at Epocrates products on iPhone® and iPod touch® and Android™ devices — with quick access to all you need at the point of
care.The Epocrates Rx® for Palm webOS application will cease to work in May. At that time, the app will not open and will cease to function.
103 Comments
This will hurt. HP needs to get all over this...
Another nail in hp/WebOS coffin...lol.
awesome
its a 2-player game, not a 3-5 player game, Jon...
which will obviously change.
the crystal ball doesnt need a Palmreader...
http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/3/1262055260350.jpg
Replace OP with palm
Big blow for medical users. HP Palm if you ignore this,bdo sp at your peril for droves of medical users will leave webOS for sure. Medical users on other platforms will not consider webOS at all in their future plans. Lame move by epocrates but a sad day indeed.
HP can afford to take time to build up webOS but developers, especially small ones, can not afford supporting a platform in which profits are low in which it doesn't pay off for them.
It looks like HP will just develop everything from the OS to the hardware and the apps.
I feel abandoned to say the least! Abandoned by Epocrates (a piece of software I use since it was PalmOS ONLY!!!), abandoned by HPalm who should not let people like the ones behind epocrates even think about leaving the platform! It is the first time in the last 7 years that I seriously thought I could really leave Palm behind and move to an Android or iPhone...
Agreed. This is why I bought my first pda in 2001.
I feel betrayed, like I caught my girl cheating. I feel like I got kicked in the nuts, and soon I won't be able to use epocrates to figure out what to take to make me feel better
Try DrugView!
Completely agree you. I've been with Palm for about 6 years and after reading this news, I thought about leaving Palm for Android (something that has not crossed my mind until now). Epocrates is one of the best apps I have in my Pre and use it daily.
Another developer has left. You think the medical community won't bounce from Palm now? While HP can wait around and play with themselves, developers and end users will not. That just about does it for me and only got this Pre Plus in March. Sad.
Jon R. on D: Dive Into Mobile, same story. Nothing to report, nothing to show, nothing to tease, nothing to flaunt, nothing to get excited about. they can be tight-lipped all they want, but if they want to 'reboot' and start over fresh, they are going to fall pretty soon. Why isn't there anything to get excited about?
No Skyscape, no serious Med apps, and now No Epocrates. That's the final nail in the coffin. Adios HPalm.
This is so depressing. I have been a cheerleader for Palm for years but I feel like I keep getting kicked in the gut.
ugh. This. 100x this. Spot on.
CES 2008, "Someday there will be a Palm Pre.
CES 2009, "Someday, there will be a Palm Pre with video and flash.
CES 2010, "Someday there will be a Palm Pre with Flash, and maybe a Palm Pre with glass screen.
While the O/S and UI may be a generation ahead of the rest of the world, the hardware and core capabilities are rotting in the son. HP doesn't have a passion for webos. They may have plans, but they can barely tease buyers with vague upgrades that never arrive. No passion from Palm, no interest from the market.
NO, HP needs to get after Thomson Reuters for a Micromedex App. Real pharmacists do not use Epocrates, it is mostly sold as the low cost option to students. Still, Epocrates is the "biggest name" out there for mobile health care reference I suppose, and that still hurts webOS.
No worries.
Epocrates will probably be back... "in the coming months..." lol...
I aint use the app no way..delete
Was disappointed when I got this email today. Epocrates webOS was already the 'lite' version compared to the full one available on the iPhone and now they've completely dropped it.
I'm not one to threaten jumping ship, but this really hits hard. Here's hoping things change soon if HP/Palm grap up some market share, otherwise I'll be out of date in February. This just further indicates how serious of problem is on their hands.
I wonder how much trouble it was for them to continue support, and I also wonder if they contacted HP/Palm before deciding to drop support.
They could have been classy and left off the deciding on a new device bit.
And even after pulling it, it's going to expire in May? Wonder if someone can go in the code and change that.
Sure. It should be a cinch to patch. Just let me know how outdated you want your pharmaceutical information to be and we can dial it in. EpocrAHtes is born! Clinical information at your fingertips and up-to-date as of Winter 2010.
Eh, I don't have use for the app, but you can probably wing it if you don't want a different device atm or you're out of internet access at the moment. But your sarcasm is appreciated as always.
See what happens when you stay silent HP? There's no talk of Pre2, no talk of WebOS, no talk of new phones period...and mass exodus continues.
mass exodus assumes there's a 'mass' to begin with.
Ouch!
Like myself, who was more than an enthusiast but actually bought an HD7 because of webOS's stagnation.
It was a great app. I found a drug interaction that my daughter's doctor did not know about - and he was the one who prescribed the two drugs! Good app, bad doctor.
But..but...i can print from my phone!
As long as it's not an HP phone!
No way, can't believe it!! What are they thinking? webOS is the best platform out there....choke...cough...choke...
I hate to say it, but maybe, just maybe, if more app developers were this honest and public HPalm would start to listen....
well, NOW the only reason I'm still here is the form factor. (and the Toushstones I have all over the house and office.)
If a small, Pre-like, Android device comes out, I'd get it.
Maybe in a couple of years webOS will claw back into the app war, but as of now, it's a joke.
Optimus S?
I know what you mean though, love my touchstones, its a shame there gonna be worthless soon...
droid pro???? its everything the pixi should have been
The only reason I'm here is waiting around for the last pay day of the month before I bounce to T-Mobile and my new phone (they don't have any Palm phones).
IF it's any consolation, Windows Phone 7 doesn't have Epocrates either.
Honestly, the information provided in epocrates was pretty basic at best half the time looking up a drug really didn't tell me anything I didn't already know besides dosage information. I would have started using Lexi-Comp a long time ago if it weren't for the price tag and the difficulty accessing information quickly. Looks like now it is time for me to pull the trigger and pay for a full subscription...
definitely.
The Palm Developer Releations team prolly has the HARDEST job on the planet right now and I don't envy the magic rabbits that have to pull out of their hats to get it done. Someone please but them a few rounds already.
I was already using the web-based version since the app wasnt getting updated as frequently as it should buy still when you see vendors just blatantly say that they are pulling out sux.
WebOS is a zombie. It's dead but still limping along very slowly saying "waiiiiiiiit.... Waaaait."
Hahaha....lol...WebOS is on life support...somebody pull the plug and put it out of its misery.
Palm deserves to be asphyxiated with a pillow
Not to worry. The death of Palm is something we won't have to wait for "in the coming months". We may as well say last rights now. There isn't going to be some "Superphone" at CES. It's over. accept it and move on.
I didn't need apps on my phone 5 years ago, so really could care less, that goes for almost every app. To this day there is not one app that I cant use my phone without.
"really could care less"
Um, so you DO care?
This is truly sad news. Hope HP does something about this.
I'm a little distraught, this is the most used and important app to me. It runs so much faster and has a better navigation than the iphone/ipod version. This app is also one of the main selling points in talking to other medical students and is main reason that I want a palmpad. please HP throw some candy at epocrates.
we never had a full product release from them. To bad but I need this software, so I may need to go back to BB. Never to the droid
Yeah, and don't forget, that WebOS 2.0 will kill any last remaining chance to use Epocrates within Classic :(
We're doomed... Patients will die as a result of drug errors, health care costs will rise, and Obama care will never amount to anything! (sarcasm)
I have been using Epocrates since Handspring days! But honestly it took so long to get on WebOS to begin with, I've gotten used to and use most the time Drugview instead!
Epocrates is the most important app I have. So this is a horrible development. I have had epocrates since palm os pda, treo, my last blackberry. Epocrates isn't meant to be an exhaustive resource- it's a optimized clinician's tool and much better than skyscape. I was worried when epocrates never released an updating tool- either it couldn't be done on webOS or they didn't figure it out. I guess it's time to dust off some homebrew app but again, of all the name medical apps epocrates is it. At least Epocrates should relook at things in 2011. Or at least open it up to homebrew developer. the hard part updating medications, alerts, interactions has to be done anyway for all other platforms.
while I don't use the app, I am sincerly considering something new due to the extreme lack of support webos is getting. There are still way to many holes in the app catalog that make mobile computing so great. Shazam, Netflix, and doc editin are just a few. Bar scanning, and many many great games. Theres just so much missing both hardware wise and sofware wise, that the excellent OS, despite my hopes, is just not enough. Palm has till january for me or I will have to consider my options. Not too impressed with gingerbread on android or their fragmentation issues either so Iphone 5 is a possibility. Lets see what is in store next year.
BOO EPOCRATES!!! Was great to have it on WebOS.. I really hope they reconsider!!
Submission to Epocrates online support/email form:
"Please keep WebOS support. It is needed and used by many medical professionals. However, I now doubt your expertise in ANY field when your web-email 'contact support' form shows WebOS as 'Web O/S Palm Pre' and under the category cookies the only options are IE/Netscape and AOL. I suppose some people still have AOL but do people actually still use Netscape?! Does that even exist anymore?! May I suggest a drug test and possible a breathalyser for your web page designers? Despite your lack of web expertise I hope you will reconsider your support of the medical community who use WebOS as your expertise in the medical field is excellent. Thanks much."
Man I used to love Netscape.
Oh boy, they are sure to reconsider now... Great way to show the intelligence of the community...
LOL +1
epocrates was also my most used app, going back to when i was in med school and pretty much one of the huge reasons i stuck with palm all these years. and now that i can't even use classic with 2.0 (even with it's super slowness), i think it's time to move on. i have a feeling many others in the medical field will follow suit.
Screw them... they'll be back... *delete*
really, I see this as a reason to move away from Palm. I love my pre and its amazing, but HP/Palm are moving way too slowly to make any impact anymore. WebOS 2.0 has been out for almost a month, and unless you bought an unlocked phone or a Pre 2 in europe, you dont have it. Really, if these updates dont come soon, im leaving and never looking back. The App Catalog has been next to stagnant, and if HP really thinks webOS printers are going to breathe life into this OS, I hate to tell them that using it as printer firmware does nothing for me with my smartphone. Maybe i'll be able to print from my phone- oh wait, theres no decent productivity software on it, and i can print from an iPhone now- a nail in the coffin. I'm on verizon with crippled gps that on my phone, never works. Palm let verizon screw up their hardware and software. If iPhone does come to verizon, I'm switching. That I believe will be the final nail in the coffin for Palm- the last webOS supportive carrier in the US (the only carrier willing to carry the lackluster Pre 2) will forget all about HPalm and soon Palm will be a distant memory. I would keep using webOS if it actually got an update once in a blue moon that kept it at least close to the current status of the iPhone or even Windows Phone 7- that platform is actually appealing to me now, sadly enough.
I feel that HP bought palm to make better web-enabled printers. Thats the reason Palm is a part of HP now. And, if you've used a web-enabled printer- they suck.
webOS is officially dead. RIP Palm, you will always have a place in my heart. I'm moving on though.
This is unfortunate. As a nursing student I use this program very frequently. There is no other alternative now. HP really needs to not let webOS die because as of right now I really do not like using any other type of phone.
try Drugview
Understandable but regretable epocrates decision, which I hope they may reconsider. webOS version is static but better than nothing. I hope to find a replacement in the next six months and at this point am unwilling to replace my pre plus witn a non-webOS phone for the sake of one app.
Very unfortunate. I use this app sometimes at work. Being a PharmD the last few years it has come in handy more than once. Oh well. I hope the Pr3 get all the support it deserves.
this is honestly a huge loss, hp needs to step up their games & get on this.. at very least throw some money at it. The medical business market is a huge one & a quality epocrates app could be a deciding factor for many , including my own mother. She is considering getting her first smartphone, her only requirements being a physical keyboard & epocrates. I demonstrated webos for her & then showed her bb & droid's offerings. She really liked how simple webos was, but bemoaned how it's version of epocrates wasn't as fully featured. She really hated blackberry btw haha. I'm sure this isn't uncommon.
As a clinician with use of PDA since 1996 for better patient care, when I got the email, I could not believe it, we have make epocrates what it is now , they don't rememeber how they started being free and for everyone with a medical license and later healthcare people... what a blow! difficult times, being in the operating room with my Pre, the only one....
Later Palm. I've fervently defended webOS for over a year now with my fellow pharmacists, but now that you've decided to kill the Classic app, the only one that allowed me to use any other med program but Epocrates, and now Epoc is gone, that means I have no choice but to jump ship. You have no one to blame but yourself. Good luck with putting webOS on a toaster instead of in the hands of professionals that'd actually use the stupid thing.
Hahahah, love this post. PharmD represent!
We all know hp/palm won't do anything....as long as jon's still captain. In the meantime they might do something in the coming months and by then palm will just be a low quality poorly viewed museum artifact in it's tightley nailed coffin.
Yes they will. They will produce web enabled printers and tablets but no smartphone. Jon can't discuss it because he's under a gag order. Why else would all the Palm talent jump ship and developers run for the hills? The Pre 2 and it's lackluster roll out as well as the deafening silence at HP about anything to do with new WebOS Smartphones, is proof enough that it's over.
if palm doesn't allow foreigner buyers to get apps from the store, in all europe for ex., the epocrates will be the first of many after....
palm let me buy apps also here in italy!!!! are you a kamikaze???!!!!!!!!
they're not kamikaze, just a little bit ritardato
I don't think anyone's comments on this forum will do anything. There used to be a day when Palm may have listened to what we posted, but today it's very evident that HP is blocking Palm from succeeding where they need to be.
I'm afraid to say it also, as I have been a big time Palm user for many years, but I'm not going to be the last one on a sinking ship. It's time for me to move on as well. This isn't the first time a major developer said that they're not supporting webos and it appears to be happening at an increasing rate. I can't blame the developers. If there's no demand, then why develop for it? Would you develop an app for MS-DOS? Of course not - so why get angry at this developer? They're making the right decision and unfortunately for Palm, this is why there aren't any really good apps coming.
HPalm just is not making good decisions. They're sitting on a golden egg, but refuse to give it to the customers - especially the ones who have been advocates of their product for so long. Were it not for the many folks here on precentral and those with homebrew, I don't even think Palm would have made it this far. I truly believe Palm would do whatever it takes to pump out new devices and flood the net with PR announcements, but I really think HP is stopping them for some odd reason - perhaps their NDA or agreements are far too strict. HP may think they're doing a good thing, but they'll realize soon enough that they're not Microsoft or Apple.
I can't even begin to comment on my frustration - mostly because of the investments I have placed in this device (apps, touchstones, etc) but I won't make that mistake again. They've crushed my hopes completely and even with a new announcement at CES, I won't be staying. I simply am tired of being burnt waiting and hoping for HPalm. I'm tired.
Sadly, the talk of the town is that Palm is dead. Even when I speak about my phone at work, people look at me strange asking me why I have a Palm device - always saying "isn't Palm going out of business?
In addition, there's far too many apps on Android and IOS to compete. I thought giving it a year or so would change that, but the rate by which apps are becoming available are far too slow and quite frankly if you rip out the annoying AppBookStore, there's probably about half as many apps. I tire of the times someone pulls out their Android device or iPhone and is able to do things that I can only dream about on my pre. Life is much simpler on other platforms, sorry Palm.
HP has successfully kept their mouth shut for far too long and has crumbled the dreams of Palm's hard work. I hope you're happy HP, because I'm not.
Come January or February, if and when Verizon releases the iphone, I'll be gone. If they don't, I'll pick up whatever Android device suits my needs. I'm sad to go (really) but I'll be happy once I can do tons more on the other phone. Whatever that phone may be.
as I'm sure everyone is thinking CES or I'm out. Sorry. Palm I like your ui but... Throw me some damn candy to go with it....
You'll get your candy......in the coming months.
I'm not waiting for "the coming months". I'm over and out at the end of THIS month. It doesn't matter what is or isn't announced at CES. Not to me. I'm switching to T-Mobile at the end of the month and they don't have any Palm Phones, which is just fine with me.
It's pretty disheartening times and indeed very painful for medical webOS users to hear of epocrates officially cutting us off. Sure they are not the only fish in the sea but in the webOS pond, they are a pretty big catch you can't afford to lose.
My deeper concern would be the silence from HP Palm on losing epocrates. We need to hear a serious response asap. HP Palm needs to calm the passengers or else many are going to jump ship. Including the ship doctors.
The fact that, after 24 hrs, there are only ~60+ comments on this news item, and only 50+ comments in the Forum thread, pretty much confirms that the Physician/Nursing/Paramedical Palm community has long ago left for greener pastures. In the former Palm "heyday" there would have been an outcry of hundreds, if not thousands, of posts! The Epocrates team is apparently correct that WebOS is dead. Fortunately, I've been slowly migrating all my old Palm (Medical Reference) Memos to Google Docs via Inglorious Notes, so I'll soon be ready to jump to Android. If HP isn't scrambling behind the scenes to "reverse" Epocrates decision, then it's clear that they too know it's game over.
I work for a medical school where I'm apparently the only Web OS user (till the end of the month). It was a good ride Palm. R.I.P.
Does it cost to keep an app in the catalog? Otherwise why remove it?
Ummm, because you could get your butt sued off because it contained outdated information!!! Imagine having someone relying on information that was a year old from an application they just purchased and someone dying because of that.
Hmmm, me thinks not only would they pull it from the App Catalog, but I think they will also "forcefully remove" it from devices using the long rumored "remote kill switch" for apps.
I've utilized a palm in my daily routine as a physician all the way back to my Palm M515 and now to my Pre 2. I have never owned another smartphone ouside of the Palm brand. Losing Epocrates will be the last straw for me. I can already not utilize my Slingbox with WebOS and now I will no longer be able to use Epocrates as I now do daily. I have hung on as long as I think I can and am now quite disappointed that I shelled out the extra $ for the unlocked Palm Pre 2.
I may make a display out of my past devices to hang on the wall...M515, Treo 650, Treo 680, Treo Pro (hated the windows OS), Palm Pre, and Palm Pre 2 as I still have all of them.
Thanks for the let down HP!
Goodbye Palm. I really will miss you!
You do know about the web version, right?
Yes I do, But after being left out in the cold by Epocrates, I sure as hell won't support them any longer. I've had a paid subscription with them for as long as I can remember, but they will no longer lighten my wallet.
R.I.P Palm.
Rest
In
Pieces
This stinks! I use ePocrates EVERY DAY. In nany places I use it, there is no cell or wifi access! I've been using ePocrates since my Treo650 days. This is a very disappointing announcement!
I have used Palm since 1996 with the Palm Pilot. I needed Epocrates and just could not wait any longer and left a year ago for android incredible. LOVE the phone and all its apps. I was a die-hard palmaholic, but am very glad I switched. MUCH less stress with android.
I'm another disapointed user. I use Epocrates a lot in my practice. I don't want to abandon Palm yet so I'm thinking what would be the impact of a Pre app that uses content scraped from the online site (let's say a local cache of data) because it's much faster than going online every time.
I'm another disapointed user. I use Epocrates a lot in my practice. I don't want to abandon Palm yet so I'm thinking what would be the impact of a Pre app that uses content scraped from the online site (let's say a local cache of data) because it's much faster than going online every time.
Check out Drugview (in the app catalog).
Drugview is cool and I will try to use it some more to check it out for speed, but what I really liked was the updated list as I typed - that seemed like the best way to get to the needed drug quickly. Maybe that can be added in Drugview somehow...
This is my first & last post here. I am a physician, have been a long time palm user since the palmpilot1000, and have come to rely heavily on ePocrates and Classic. The simultaneous disposal of both apps severely cripples WebOS's utility in my life. I believe there are many more physicians in my shoes who are now having similar problems. I am now reluctantly looking to migrate to a Droid Pro... Goodbye Palm.
I have some deeper inside info here. Epocrates is a complex product, and since they dropped their HTML5 cross-platform development scheme, it doesn't make sense for them to spend the money to QA after each data release for webOS right now (they release weekly at times, and this is medical information with possible legal repercussions for inaccurate data, so you can imagine how exhaustive their review process is). They went for native per platform, and are back to supporting mainly three platforms because of their chosen development philosophy.
Is their approach going to be the best in the long run? Possibly not. To me, it's pretty short-sighted, and 2011 may be the year they lose out to competitors nipping at their heels. Also, mobile devices aren't as limited as they used to be. Epocrates got their start with Palm before they made a phone, and extremely abridged, tight data set them apart. These days, in a smartphone and especially a tablet world, their competitive edge is less valuable.
Epocrates fans, it might be time to check out the competition, some of which are embracing more platforms and using development practices with are more cost effective across different device OS'.
Disclosure: I worked at Ecporates, and the webOS version of their mobile software was mainly my responsibility to architect. I saw the writing on the wall and left the firm earlier this year. I did however find a nice home at Palm right after, so I guess I'm not complaining. :)
What would you recommend we check out to replace Epocrates?
Another sad day in Palm land. I'm very disappointed. First the news of Classic disappearing with WebOS 2.0. Then Epocrates pulling out. I could have lived without Classic and was planning to transition away from Classic. But now the loss of Epocrates next year is too much. As a physician, I use Epocrates almost daily on my Pre. It suits my needs and works fast enough. It is a real shame that WebOS will be losing this app. I've loved the Pre and have been an advocate for it and WebOS, but it is really starting to lose its appeal as it continues to DROP apps that are important for me. Palm once was a key player for medical professionals. It seems Palm has forgotten this. A sad chapter in Palm's history indeed. I will now be forced to move to an Android phone because I'd like to stay with Sprint. :(
I can't emphasize enough how big of a disappointment this is. I've been a huge fan of Palm WebOS. I strongely believe that of all the mobile OS systems, it's clearly superior. I'm saddened that I will have to switch to an inferior platform simply because of one program - connecting to a cell/wireless network in many areas of our hospital is simply not feasible. Very sad day indeed.
I think the people who say they're leaving Palm so that they can get another platform/smartphone that runs Epocrates is ridiculous! Common' it's one app, and one for which there are alternatives, namely LexiComp, but also Drug View.
On the other hand, I think leaving Palm because of Epocrates' decision is more reasonable in the context of it being a sign of Palm's demise. I too am frustrated and loosing interest in an OS that has nil market share and one that's put out by a corporation that doesn't have any sense or effective leadership when it comes to marketing, strategy, or expedience in product development.
I hate the iPhone (I tried it for a few weeks, couldn't stand it, or the people who worship them), and despite how long I've been loyal Palm (I had a Palm Pilot III, Treo 650, Treo 700p, and then Palm Pre), I think it might be time to go Android. I've been pretty impressed with Google for some time, and although I worry about them getting to be an uber evil giant (even though they say that they strive to not be evil), I think Android may be where it's at.
Good luck to all of you in your future platform/device selections.
very disappointing to this Paramedic.
This killed the Pre for me. I'm jumping ship to Android as soon as my contract is up.
I use epocrates daily, and have been preaching it's usefulness ever since I had to borrow my girlfriend's iPhone to use it. With epocrates leaving, I'm leaving.